Lamp socket

ABSTRACT

The following specification describes a lamp socket insulator having integrally formed cantilever extension walls for supporting a lamp electrically connected to a pair of wedge type electrical receptacles carried by the socket with a lamp housing engaged with the insulator in turn encircling and supporting the extension walls.

United States Patent Rietli 1 June 20, 1972 [541 LAMP SOCKET 3,200,3638/1965 Morgan, Jr. ..339/75 T [72] Inventor: Lawrence E. Rmh Springfield"1. 3,387,255 6/1968 Earleywme, Jr ..339/1 88 R [73] Assignee:Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill. Primary fimminer joseph HMcGlynn 22 W d; M 3, 1971 Attorney-Augustus G. Douvas, William J. Newmanand Norton Lesser [2]] Appl. No.: 139,682

[52] US. Cl. ..339/93 L, 339/119 L, 339/176 L [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl..H0lr 33/12 The following specification describes a lamp socketinsulator [58] Field of Search ..339/93, 75, 119, 176; ing integrally rmn l r ex n i n lls for sup- 240 4 55 porting a lamp electricallyconnected to a pair of wedge type electrical receptacles carried by thesocket with a lamp hous- 56] References Cited ing engaged with theinsulator in turn encircling and supporting the extension walls.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1964 Trautner et al.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 20 I972 INVENTO R Lawrence E.Rie'rh FIG.4 7

ATTORNEY LAMP SOCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates in general to instrument or panel typelamp sockets and more particularly to an improved arrangement forsupporting a lamp in a socket of the type having wedge type electricalreceptacles for receiving one end of a lamp.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art In the prior art instrument ofpanel type lamp sockets having a wedge type electrical connection forthe lamps, the lamp is cantilever supported by one end of the glassenvelope inserted between metal spring fingers or legs. The lampterminals projecting from the one'end are folded over the lamp end andsandwiched between the spring fingers and glass end to complete theelectrical connections. This type of arrangement leaves the lamp subjectto considerable vibrational forces creating instability in the lampconnections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes a socketinsulator of a type somewhat similar to that shown in US. Pat. No.3,387,255. The socket carries a pair of wedge type electricalreceptacles for in turn carrying the narrowed glass end of the lamp. Thelamp terminals are short lengths of wire which are conventionally foldedover a respective portion of the glass end and sandwiched between therespective receptacle and the glass end. The aforementioned patentdiscloses spaced annular portions for the socket insulator and in thepresent invention an inner cylindrical portion is provided with anextended wall to engage the lamp body at spaced peripheral positions anddampen the lamp vibration, while an annular housing which is alsoreceived by the insulator intermediate the cylindrical and annularportions in turn serves to support the extended wall.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide animproved socket insulator of the type having wedge type electricalreceptacles for receiving a lamp.

Other objects and features will become apparent on examination of thefollowing specification and claims together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric exploded viewof a lamp, socket and housing assembly employing the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the socket illustrating the lamp andreceptacles assembled thereto;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the socket insulator partially insection; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevational view of the insulator socket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 of the drawings alamp, socket and housing assembly is indicated by the referencecharacter 10. The assembly comprises a socket insulator 12 carrying apair of spaced wedge type electrical receptacles 14 for receiving therectangular portion 16 formed at the end of a generally tubular glassenvelope defining a conventional wedge base lamp 18. A housing 20encircles the lamp and an opening 22 at one end thereof provides a lightexit for lighting an appropriate instrument or other apparatus to whichthe lamp assembly is attached by means of the spring clip 24 fixed tothe housing and whose ends are snap fitted in an appropriate panel orinstrument opening, for example.

The lamp terminals comprise a pair of spaced wires 26 which are foldedback over the respective rectangular glass portion 16 for engagingagainst one of the spaced spring fingers or legs 28 of the wedgereceptacles 14. The receptacles 14 are each provided with a terminalsuch as 30 at the end 0pposite the respective receptacles to which arespective insulated conductor 32 is connected for extending anelectrical connecu'on to the lamp 18 by means of a conventional socket34.

The socket insulator 12 comprises a first annular wall 36 having a clefttherein and joined at the end adjacent terminal 30 to a cylindrical orannular wall 38 of smaller diameter so as to be inwardly spaced fromwall 36 to define an annular passageway 40. The cylindrical wall 38 isprovided with a pair of spaced U-shaped passageways 41 and 42. Thepassageways 41 and 42 are spaced by a central axially extending rib 44from which a perpendicular arm 46 extends in opposite directions todefine the legs of each U-shaped passageway 41 and 42.

Each U-shaped passageway 41 and 42 receives a respective U-shaped wedgetype receptacle 14 with the side legs 28 of each receptacle l4projecting beyond the central rib 44 to receive the bulb end portion 16.The short back leg of the respective U-shaped receptacle engages theback leg of the respective U-shaped passageway and a pair of spacedbarbs 48 formed thereon engage opposite radial surfaces of arm 46 forpreventing the retraction of the receptacle when inserted to therequired position in a respective passageway 41 and 42.

A plurality of integrally formed circumferentially shaped arcuate walls50 extend axially from an annular wall 52 formed on the periphery ofwall 38 for receiving the tubular portion of the bulb 18. A locking lug54 radially extending between walls 52 and 36 at spaced positionsengages in a respective J slot such as 56 of housing 20. The walls 50have an inner diameter of substantially 0.40 inch to grasp the 0.40 inchdiameter wall of the bulb 18 for supporting the bulb against vibratorymovement. The free ends of the walls 50 are thinned adjacent the freeends to facilitate insertion of the bulb and receipt of the housing 20.

The annular wall of housing 20 is received between the walls 36 and 50and between 36 and 38 with the lugs 54 aligned with the axial portion ofthe respective 1 slot until the housing engages between walls 36 and 38to abut an integrally formed circumferentially spaced stop such as 56formed on the interior of wall 36. At that time the lugs 54 are at theaxial end of the respective J slot so that rotation of the housingrelative the insulator 12 serves to engage the lugs 54 in thecircumferential portions of the .l slots to prevent axial retraction ofthe housing. Thus, the walls 50 which extend substantially one-half theaxial length of bulb 18, or about 0.4 inch beyond the end of wall 36,serve to support the bulb against vibratory movement. The annular wallof housing 20 in turn supports the walls 50 with the plastic preventingdirect contact between the metal housing and glass bulb. The housing inturn is supported against vibration both by the circumferentially spacedstops 56 and lugs 54, while the attachment of clip 24 to an appropriatesupport assists in preventing relative movement between the bulb andreceptacles.

The foregoing constitutes the description of an improved lamp socket andassembly whose inventive concepts are believed set forth in theaccompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A socket insulator assembly for receiving a lamp having a narrowedend from which a pair of terminals extend, the improvement comprising aninsulator socket cylindrical wall having a pair of spaced axialpassageways therein, an electrical receptacle in each said passagewaywith each receptacle having spring means adjacent one end for receivingsaid lamp narrowed end and establishing a respective electricalconnection to a respective one of said terminals, a socket insulatorannular wall encircling said cylindrical wall and spaced outwardly ofsaid cylindrical wall for receiving a housing wall therebetween, meansintegrally joining said cylindrical and annular walls adjacent the axialends of said socket walls opposite the position of said spring meansreceiving said lamp end, and integrally formed support means projectingfrom the end of said cylindrical wall adjacent said receptacle one endfor engaging said lamp at peripheral positions intermediate the ends ofsaid lamp for supporting said lamp against vibratory movement relativesaid socket.

2. In the socket assembly claimed in claim 1, a housing having anannular wall for receipt between said socket cylindrical and socketannular walls with the diameter of said housing annular wall dimensionedfor encircling engagement with said projecting support means to assistin preventing vibratory movement of said lamp.

3. The socket assembly claimed in claim 2 in which said insulator sockethas a plurality of radial lugs integrally formed between said insulatorsocket cylindrical wall at a position spaced axially from said meansjoining said socket cylindrical and annular walls, a plurality of Jslots formed at one end in said housing annular wall with each J slotreceiving a respective radial lug, and a plurality of stop walls formedon said socket for engaging said housing wall one end and cooperatingwith said radial lugs for restraining vibratory movement of saidhousing.

4. In the socket assembly claimed in claim 3, a spring clip on saidhousing spaced from said housing one end for engaging said housing witha support.

5. In the socket assembly claimed in claim 4 in which said integrallyformed support means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spacedarcuate walls projecting from said socket cylindrical wall along aninner diameter of 0.40 inch and substantially the same diameter as theouter diameter of said lamp.

10' l k l

1. A socket insulator assembly for receiving a lamp having a narrowedend from which a pair of terminals extend, the improvement comprising aninsulator socket cylindrical wall having a pair of spaced axialpassageways therein, an electrical receptacle in each said passagewaywith each receptacle having sprIng means adjacent one end for receivingsaid lamp narrowed end and establishing a respective electricalconnection to a respective one of said terminals, a socket insulatorannular wall encircling said cylindrical wall and spaced outwardly ofsaid cylindrical wall for receiving a housing wall therebetween, meansintegrally joining said cylindrical and annular walls adjacent the axialends of said socket walls opposite the position of said spring meansreceiving said lamp end, and integrally formed support means projectingfrom the end of said cylindrical wall adjacent said receptacle one endfor engaging said lamp at peripheral positions intermediate the ends ofsaid lamp for supporting said lamp against vibratory movement relativesaid socket.
 2. In the socket assembly claimed in claim 1, a housinghaving an annular wall for receipt between said socket cylindrical andsocket annular walls with the diameter of said housing annular walldimensioned for encircling engagement with said projecting support meansto assist in preventing vibratory movement of said lamp.
 3. The socketassembly claimed in claim 2 in which said insulator socket has aplurality of radial lugs integrally formed between said insulator socketcylindrical wall at a position spaced axially from said means joiningsaid socket cylindrical and annular walls, a plurality of J slots formedat one end in said housing annular wall with each J slot receiving arespective radial lug, and a plurality of stop walls formed on saidsocket for engaging said housing wall one end and cooperating with saidradial lugs for restraining vibratory movement of said housing.
 4. Inthe socket assembly claimed in claim 3, a spring clip on said housingspaced from said housing one end for engaging said housing with asupport.
 5. In the socket assembly claimed in claim 4 in which saidintegrally formed support means comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced arcuate walls projecting from said socketcylindrical wall along an inner diameter of 0.40 inch and substantiallythe same diameter as the outer diameter of said lamp.